"I’m still struggling to be available for Sunday. It’s a muscle problem, a muscle issue. During the [West Brom] game, I felt it and I had a few problems. I will do my best to be available".

Matip arrived the club carrying an injury, and he's now missed 12 games this season with various issues, which - combined with Dejan Lovren's regular injury issues - has led to regular disruption to Liverpool's defensive unit.

"A big issue for Klopp...is that neither Dejan Lovren nor Joel Matip are robust enough to cope with the rigours of English football. If Liverpool want to progress, Klopp must act in the summer".

The prevailing view appears to be that Lovren's place will be most under threat if Klopp signs a new centre-half, but if Matip keeps missing games with niggling injuries, he could quickly find himself on the outside looking in.

Right now, Neither Lovren nor Matip have any credible competition for their places; Lucas and Klavan can cover, but they're obviously squad players, and neither is a long-term solution.

That may change next season if, for example, Klopp signs a player like Virgil Van Dijk, who *is* a credible threat to both Lovren and Matip.

On a related note: Klopp had similar injury issues with Dortmund centre-halves Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic, both of whom suffered regular niggling injuries during Klopp's time at the club.